A William & Mary carved gilt wood and gesso altar stick or torchere, circa 1690

A William & Mary carved gilt wood and gesso altar stick or torchere, circa 1690, the circular top above an elaborately carved stem, incorporating scrolling acanthus, tapering to a tri-form base, on scroll feet, 107cm high

For a later pair of torcheres of a similar form, see Christie's, New York, Property from the Collection of Nelson Grimaldi Seabra, 22nd October 2003, lot 105 ($59,750).

Condition Report:
Marks, knocks, scratches and abrasions commensurate with age and use. Old chips and splits. Losses to the surface throughout, revealing underlying timber in places. Vacant aperture to centre of top from where a candle spike once sat. Evidence of old worm in areas throughout. Some splits to base along the join lines of underlying construction. Seemingly abrupt join between stem and top - However, if all original carved elements were present this would seem less so. Please refer to additional images for visual reference to condition.